Atlanta Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Doctors and other healthcare professionals have a duty to do no harm and provide comprehensive treatment to every patient. When they fail to do so because of negligence, carelessness, or improper technique, they run the risk of causing additional complications on top of the patient’s original issue – sometimes resulting in wrongful death.
The law calls such situations medical malpractice, and it’s vital for victims to know their rights and options for legal action by speaking with an experienced Atlanta medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible. They should also speak up on behalf of others in order to prevent such actions from ever reoccurring.
Types of Medical Malpractice
The main types of medical malpractice are malpractice by commission and malpractice by omission. Malpractice by commission describes situations in which a doctor proactively does something that ends up harming the patient. This could include operating on the wrong body part or performing a procedure under the influence of alcohol. Malpractice by omission, on the other hand, describes any situation in which the healthcare professional or doctor forgets to perform a necessary step or otherwise neglects to complete a necessary action.
If something goes awry during a medical procedure, it does not automatically qualify as medical malpractice. Doctors cannot be held accountable for the unexpected as long as they perform their duties with the necessary skill and attention to detail that any other similarly skilled professional would use. Medical malpractice essentially describes negligence.
Other types of malpractice include:
- Surgical errors, which include cases in which a doctor operates on the wrong body part or on the wrong side of the body, leaves medical devices inside a patient, or damages the patient during a procedure.
- Lack of informed consent, which describes any situations where the health care professional did not fully inform a patient about the risks of a particular treatment plan. Doctors must ensure their patients are fully informed of all details of their treatment so they can make informed decisions about particular procedures or treatments.
However, in some cases, a doctor may not be able to obtain a patient’s consent in an emergency situation. If a patient is unresponsive, the doctor may use his or her best judgment to perform a procedure without the patient’s consent. This would not count as medical malpractice since the doctor acted in the patient’s best interest.
- Misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose. Doctors must explore all possibilities or consult with specialists if they cannot quickly diagnose a patient’s condition. If a doctor delays a diagnosis or delivers an incorrect diagnosis, it can have catastrophic consequences for the patient.
- Gross negligence. where a healthcare professional or doctor makes a mistake that even an untrained bystander could have caught in time or any other egregious error that causes harm to a patient. This would include, for example, things like reading an X-ray backward or amputating the wrong limb.
Medical malpractice can have disastrous consequences for patients. Victims of medical malpractice should know what their options are following such an incident. If you’ve been a victim, after you have addressed the immediate medical concerns of your situation, connect with an Atlanta personal injury lawyer with experience handling medical malpractice cases. Your attorney must show the court that another similarly skilled doctor or healthcare professional in the same situation would have acted differently. This will usually involve testimony from experts in the medical field.
The Dixon Firm, P.C. | Local Atlanta Medical Malpractice Attorneys You Can Trust
Medical malpractice is a complicated specialty because attorneys must understand the basics of medical care and how it pertains to the law. Not all medical mistakes are negligent, so if you’re unsure, consult with an Atlanta medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible. Speak with The Dixon Firm, P.C. to determine whether your claim merits compensation. Call our office at 404-733-1166 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.
